Do you wonder why it’s so hard to open a bag of potato chips? That’s because it was properly sealed to keep your food fresh until the time you open it. Other times food packaging can open just too easy and the food is often stale. This is because the food wasn’t packaged tight enough, allowing the seal to break and air to get to your food which is why it’s stale.
Food gets tested for quality and assurance before it’s shipped out to store shelves. Stale food can be a bad thing for the manufacturer. It could cost them a lawsuit or a food recall. To avoid costly mistakes, manufacturers must test their food products for strength and leaks.
1. Why Packaged Food Is Tested
Food that’s often transported through the air comes in contact with both high-pressure or low-pressure environments. That seal in your bag of potato chips could weaken thanks to the air pressure levels in the aircraft. Even if there’s a seal, leaks can still occur if it’s not sealed properly.
There are instances where food packaging is too tightly sealed or not sealed enough. That’s where leak detection equipment comes in. It helps detect these problems and prevent them from happening. Manufacturers must follow a list of procedures to ensure quality.
2. The Seal Strength Test
Food packages must undergo several tests before it gets transported in the air to warehouses across the nation. Some of these tests include:
- Leak detection tests
- Seal strength tests
Leak detection tests involve the use of leak detection equipment to look for cracks or bubbles in food packaging. Seal strength tests determine the strength of the seal. Results from both of these tests must be approved by local and national regulatory agencies. Thanks to the growing use of technology, the food packaging industry has figured out a way to carry out these tests with the appropriate equipment.
3. Leak Detection
There are several methods that manufacturers in food packaging can detect leaks. Companies need access to leak detection equipment that provides them with fast results. Other factors include looking for the tightness of the seal or the closure. Some of the methods used in food packaging include:
- Altitude Simulation Test
- Bubble Emission Test
- Dry Chamber Method
- Gas Leak Detection
4. Leak Detection Results
If a leak is detected then the manufacturer must immerse the package in water and take another test. Soapy water can also be used to detect for leaks. Bubbles will then show where the leak is located. This test is also ideal for detecting crumbs, contamination, and other sealing issues.
All of these tests help ensure that your package is properly sealed. When you open a bag of potato chips, they shouldn’t fly everywhere because it was sealed too tightly. Or, you don’t want to end up with stale potato chips. So, it’s important for manufacturers to use leak detection equipment to ensure that your product is sealed tightly and the contents aren’t damaged.
